LOS ANGELES – You may have seen the videos circulating online of something glowing in the Pacific Ocean. Don’t worry you aren’t imagining things. Its that time of year for the red tides and this is one of the brightest ones yet.

“We are having what is called a plankton bloom," said Grant Graves, a marine biologist and dive instructor trainer with more than 7,000 dives under his belt. "This particular plankton bloom turns red because there are dinoflagellates, its an animal that is both a plant and an animal."

What You Need To Know


  • Annual red tides are especially bright this year

  • Phenomenon caused by bioluminescent plankton

  • Causes ocean to glow blue at night

  • Marine biologist advises to observe phenomenon safely amid pandemic

Graves' passion to share about marine science inspired an outing to check out the first red tide of the season for himself.

“Its like when a wave breaks or dolphins swim through, or a boat goes through the red tide, you will see this cool neon blue light. I love it, it's my favorite thing. We have them almost every year, sometimes three a year,” he said.

After dark is when the real show begins.

Graves says this naturally occurring phenomenon is due to warmer weather starting earlier and run off from land from things such as chemical fertilizers, and sewage treatment plants.

While it may look inviting, Graves cautions against taking a bioluminescent dip.

“Generally for humans it's probably not the best thing to be swimming in," Graves said. "But it probably won't do permanent damage, but I would certainly not eat any fish that was caught here or where any big red tide is happening, and certainly no shellfish.”

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Graves also works in emergency management with the Red Cross and emphasized following city and county guidelines on beach closures.

“As cool as the bioluminescence is, and I love it, we can't flock to the beaches right now and go see it. So just be careful, follow the guidelines from the Public Health Department of LA County and LA City,” he said.

But if you can view from a good social distance, these bright spots amid the pandemic are not to be missed.

Southern Californians living along the coast have also posted on social media about the smell coming from the red tide.

"There is a pungent smell, indicating the breakdown of organic material," wrote the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Photo courtesy: Gavin Schneider, San Clemente